Russia vowed yesterday to use its veto to block a proposed UN resolution drafted by the United States, France and Britain that would impose sanctions on Syria for the use of chemical weapons. The trio are pushing for a vote early next week on the measure that would slap sanctions on 11 Syrians and 10 entities linked to chemical attacks in the nearly six-year war.<br/><br/>Russian Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov said in a closed-door meeting of the Security Council. Safronkov rejected the measure as one-sided, saying it was based on insufficient proof and contradicted the fundamental principle of presumption of innocence until the investigation is over.<br/><br/>Russia has used its veto six times to shield its Damascus ally from any punitive action by the Security Council. The draft resolution follows a UN-led investigation which concluded in October that the Syrian military had carried out at least three chlorine attacks on opposition-held villages in 2014 and 2015.<br/><br/>The fresh clash with Russia came as a new round of peace talks in Geneva struggled to get off the ground, with Syrian government and opposition delegations haggling over the format of meetings. The vote expected on Monday or Tuesday would mark the first major council action by the new US administration of President Donald Trump.